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Monday, 10 September 2012

The owl and the pussycat

Its been a another busy week. I've been working on a design commission for lets knit magazine. I can't show you any pictures till its in the mag but I am very happy that my first patterns to be featured in a magazine are some of the cutest creatures I've ever created :)
I was also lucky enough to be asked to write about blogging for lets knit and after worrying about what to write for a few days I sat down and got my thoughts on paper and wrote my little article. It left me feeling a bit mushy about my blog and my readers so I thought I'd give you all a little treat in this weeks post.

After all that work that I can't post pics about I didn't really have anything to show for my week of work so last night I decided to write a new free pattern :)

These little mini owls are really cute and quick to make.

i owl pattern

You will need

DK weight
yarn one multicolour and one plain to match

3.5mm
crochet hook

Wool needle

Toy stuffing

Scraps of
felt

Felting
needle

Long pins

Abbreviations

St Stitches (this is shown at the end
of every row so you know how many stitches you should have at the end of the
round)

CH chain

SS slip stitch

SC single crochet

HDC half double crochet

DC double crochet

INC single crochet increase (2 single
crochet into the stitch)

DEC single crochet decrease (single
crochet the next 2 stitches together by inserting yarn into the next stitch,
draw through a loop, insert hook into the next stitch, draw through a loop,
yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook) *I like to give the yarn a
little tug after doing this stitch to make sure the decrease is nice and tight
which is important cause these guys are so little*

() around Brackets show an action that
is to be repeated .

Owl body

This is
worked in a spiral; use a contrasting piece of yarn as a row marker so you know
when you have got to the end of the row.

Using a wool
needle weave the yarn through the last 6 Stitches and pull tight to close.
Weave in yarn ends and cut off remaining yarn.

Wings

Make 2 using
3.5mm crochet hook

This is
worked along the front and back of a foundation chain so your chain becomes the
centre of the wing.

Ch 5

SS in 2nd
Ch from hook, SC, HDC, 3DC in last chain from hook

Turn and
work along the back of the chain

HDC, SC, SS
to join into your first stitch

Cut the yarn
leaving a long tail and pull through loop to secure.

Sew the
wings onto the owl’s body at the line where your yarn changes colour. One on
each side

Weave in any
loose ends and cut of remaining yarn.

Cut circles
out of felt to make the eyes and attach to the body with a felting needle (you
can sew or glue if you don’t have a felting needle)

Cut a small
triangle of felt for the beak and attach in the same way between the eyes.

That’s you
mini owl finished happy crocheting

In kitten news they are all doing wonderfully. Last time around I had trouble getting them onto solid food and toilet training but this lot have done it all with no bother at all. My little fave was very taken with my little owls

Mummy checking up on the situation.

Not quite like the poem I'm afraid my pussycat killed the owl :)

Its my favourite time of week, its handmade monday time again. I'm gonna have a cuppa and catch up on the lovely crafters blogs why not join me :)

OOh Liz I love your owl pattern..as you might have gathered from my blog post! It was easy to follow and I just love the shape - in fact I enjoyed spending time just gazing at and squidging the sphere before the details were added!So cool of you to leave a comment too - thanks!Looking forward to seeing lots more of your creations - in cyberland and in print!Ali